Insecticide dispenser



Nov. 7, 1944. F. H BURMElTER ETAL 2,362,351

INSECTICIDE DISPENSER voriginal Filed J. 3o, 1941 ATTRNEY Patented Nov.7, 1944 UNITED `STATES PATENT OFFICE lNsEcTIcmE DISPENSER Frederick H.Burmeister and Ira F. Flatz, Toledo, Ohio, assignors to Air-WayElectricAppliance Corporation, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Originalapplication'January 30, 1941, Serial No.

376,588. Divided and this application September 27, 1943, Serial No.503,960

11 claims. (ci. Lis-ii'n' This invention relates to vacuum cleanerattachments and in its more specific aspects relates to a means andmechanism for effectively applying a crystalline volatilizableinsecticide substance to infected areas, and more particularly to` thedestruction of moths in moth infested overstuied furniture, varioustypes of clothing, household goods and furnishings. n

The primary object of the invention is to provide an air operated devicethat is adapted to pulverize a crystalline insecticide and to dispensethe same upon an article to be treated.

More specifically, the invention aims to accomplish both pulverizationand delivery without the utilization of mechanical power other than thatprovided by the moving air stream. Such a device is particularlydesirable for use in connection with a vacuum cleaner of a typeembodying a multiple stage fan located on the discharge side ofthe-filter and not adapted to function as a means for pulverizingcrystals.

Pulverization of insecticide `crystals in the presence of a moving airstream has been successfully accomplished by passing the crystalsthrough a high speed motor driven fan such as the suction ian of avacuum cleaner. The impeller blades of such a fan will effectivelyreduce-the crystals to a powder of varying neness. to utilize an airstream operated fan for pulverizing insecticide crystals, have not metwith success. The present invention eliminates the dili-` sorb momentumfrom theair stream, and thence.`

directing and redirecting them against fa fixed abrading surface orsurfaces until they havebeen reduced to a uniform degree of'nneness, andpermitting them to escape through a discharge outlet only after suchnneness has been acquired.

We find that the most effective method of redirecting the crystalsagainst an abrading surface until they are completely reduced, is torecirculate them in a circuitous path in which they will be returned tothe vabrading surface as often as is required for their pulverization.In a preferred form of the invention this path is substantiallycircular, and the abrading surface is However, attempts located at theperipheryof the path so that centrifugal force may cause the crystals torepeatedly engage the surface after the initial impact.

Other and still further objects of the invention are to increase theefficiency of the insecticide,

to increase the effectiveness 'o f the application i of the insecticideand to simplify the mechanism for applying s'ame to insect infestedgoods and areas in the home.

Other and still further objects of the invention will occur to thoseskilled in the arts to whichA this invention pertains as the descriptionproceeds which taken in connection with the accompanying drawing setsforth a preferred embodiment of the invention but such preferredembodiment is not to be construed as a limitation of the invention butonly as illustrative thereof and any and all modifications, alterationsand variations of structure coming within the spirit and scope of theappended claims which limit and define the instant invention are deemedto be included herein.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a side elevational viewof the pre- Y ferred embodiment ofthe invention;

Figure 2 is an end elevational view thereof;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the l line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4 4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5 -5 ofFigure 6, showing how the abrasions are formed;

Figure 6 is an expanded view taken along thel line 6 6 of Figure 3 toshow an enlarged detail of the abrading surface; and

Figure '7 is a ,bottom plan view showing the openings in the valvethrough which material is admitted to the air stream and an opening forthe stem I3.

The effective use of any insecticide and parj ticularly that known asparadichlorobenzene requiresthat it be applied uniformly in quicklyvolatilizable form over an affected area such as to completely blanketthe said area with the resultant gas. y The instant invention deals withthe subject of effectively applying a crystalline insecticide to aninfested area and distributing the material so as to uniformly cover allportions desired to be treated. If ordinary crystals are applied to theinfested area the gases volatilized therefrom are not uniformlydistributed over the surface and in order to insure the desireddistribution of the gas the crystals must be rst pulverized. In view ofthe fact that the vinsecticide deteriorates rapidly when in powder formit is necessary to merchandise it in crystalline form and to effectivelyapply the material, it must be in powder form. Hence the necessity ofproviding a mechanism for' pulverizing the crystals of insecticide sothat they will quickly volatllize and permeate the infested material.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a casing orhousing l which encloses the essential operating parts. This housing iscylindrical in form although it mayhave any polygonal shape and isprovided with a closure member 2, equipped with an outlet or'exhausttube portion 3. The closure member 2 is removably secured to thecylindrical housing I by means of a bolt 4 extending through the centerof the housing I. `A spacer lla surrounding the bolt 4, serves toprotect the bolt from corrosion and to prevent undue exing of cover 2.The exhaust tube 3 originates in the cover or closure 2 in an opening 5a(Figure 4l deiined generally by theline 5 in Figure 3, and may extend inany desired direction.

Formed on the housing I is an inlet tube 6 having an inlet mouth 1 and areduced throat 8 which leads into the housing I. Formed in the upperregion of the inlet tube 6 is a hopper 9 which is interiorly threaded toreceive the threaded throat of an insecticide container I0. Thecontainer I is preferably in the form of a glass jar permitting aninspection of its contents.

From the hopper 9, insecticide crystals may be fed into the inlet tube 6through an opening or openings I2 normally closed by a valve II mountedon a stem' I3 extending downwardly through the central opening I3' shownin Fig. 7 and through the inlet tube 6. On the lower end of the stem I3is a finger piece Il which maybe engaged by a thumb or nger of theoperator to move the valve upwardly against the resistance of a coilspring I5 encircling the stem i3 between the head I4 andthe inlet tube6. Such upward movement of the valve uncovers the openings I2 andpermits the crystals to pass into the tube 6, where they will be pickedup by an air stream passing through the tube 6 and thence injectedthrough the reduced throat 8 into the housing I. The device is intendedto utilize the exhaust of a vacuum cleaner to provide the air streampassing through the inlet 6, and to this end the inlet mouth 1 isadapted to be connected through a suitable hose to the exhaust outlet ofa vacuum cleaner, particularly of the high suction type in which thesuction fan is located on the discharge side of the filter.

From the throat 8 the crystals are delivered tangentially into anannular comminuting chamber I8, the periphery of which is deinedpartially by the peripheral wall of the housing I and partially by anabrading member I6 lining a portion of said peripheral wall. The innerlimit o f the chamber I8 is dened by a wall I1 at least a portion ofwhich is in the form of a screen having a mesh of the proper size toprevent escape ofthe crystals from the chamber I8 until they have beenreduced to the desired neness. As disclosed, the wall I1 is formedentirely of wire mesh.

ing surface of lesser area will operate satisfactorily.

The reduced area of the throat 8 provides a Venturi action whichincreases the velocity of the air stream at the region of injection intothe comminuting chamber I8.

Attention is at this point invited to the fact rebound or be carriedinwardly by eddies in the air stream. Crystals thus carried inwardlywill, however, rebound from the screen Il and return under the action ofcentrifugal force to again .strike the abrading surface I6 so as to befurther reduced. Those crystals that are not completely reduced in onecircuit through the chamber It will be reclrculated as many times as maybe vnecessary to reduce them to the proper degree of flneness.

-m addition to its circmar motion in the enamber I8, the air will moveinwardly through the 4screen I1 to the opening' 5a in the cover andthence to the outlet 3. The fine crystal particles will be carriedthrough the screen Il by the inwardly moving air and will be deliveredthrough the outlet 3 in a stream which may be applied to the surface orarea to be treated. The device is held in the operators hand in such aposition that the nger piece I4 may be readily engaged by one of thelingers and the outlet 3 directed toward the selected area.

Brey summing up the operation, it is apparent that the objects of theinvention are attained by effecting a controlled injection ofinsecticide crystals into a moving air stream, directing the air streamladen with the crystals, at high velocity, against a fixed abradingsurface, constraining the crystal laden air stream to move in a pathwhich returnsthe crystals repeatedly into contactwith the abradingsurface until they have been reduced to the desireddegree of neness,permitting spent air currents to leave this path and to carry with themthe finer particles while constraining the coarser particles to remainin the path until fully reduced, and directing the discharge air stream,laden with pulverized crystals, to the region to be treated.

It is to be understood that numerous changes in details of construction,arrangement and operation may be eiected without departing from thespirit of the invention especially as defined in the appended claims.

This application constitutes a division of our application Serial No.376,588 entitled Insecticide dispenser.

What we claim is:

1. In a device for comminuting crystalline insecticide, means forming anannular comminuting chamber, said means including a crystal comminutingabrading element forming at least a portion of the peripheral wallof'said chamber and an inner annular wall at least a portion of`communicating inlet arranged for the injection of. a crystal laden airstream tangentially into said chamber, andan crystal comminutingabrasive inner surface and an inner annular wall at least a portion ofwhich comprises ascreen for permitting the discharge of comminutedcrystals and preventing the discharge of oversize crystals from saidchamber, an inlet arranged for the injection of a crystal laden airstream tangentially into said chamber, and a discharge nozzlecommunicating with the space within said annular wall and'l adapted toreceive the comminuted crystal laden'V air stream discharged throughsaid screen and to direct the same in the form of a spray, onto anarticle to be treated, said abrasive surface commencing at a point wherethe incoming crystal laden air stream will directly impinge thereon andextending, in the direction of movement of said air stream, around theperiphery of said chamber, to a point adjacent the inlet.

3. A spraying device for crystalline insecticide comprising a tubehaving means to which an insecticide container may be attached, a valvein said means to permit passage of crystals from the containerk to thetube, a substantially circular housing attached to said tube, saidhousing including a peripheral Wall having an inlet opening with whichsaid tube communicates and having a crystal comminutive abrasive innersurface of less than 360 circumferential extent, said housing furtherincluding a pair of side walls, one

of which is detachable, a substantially cylindrical t screenconfinedbetween said side walls and de-v ning, together with said peripheral andside walls, an annular chamber into which said tube is arranged todirect a crystal laden air stream, an outlet nozzle attached to one ofsaid side walls and communicating with the space defined within saidscreen, an a tie rod extending through said space and connecting saidside walls in assembled relation, said inlet tube, abrading surface andscreen being so related to each other that the stream of air owingthrough said nozzle will direct the crystals carried thereby-in astraight line below a portion of the screen element into direct contactwith said abrading surface at an acute angle thereto and will thereaftercirculate said crystals through said annular chamber around said screen,producing a. turbulent action resulting in repeated engagement of thecrystals with the abrading surface until completely comminuted andpermitting separation of the ne particles from the coarser crystals andpassage of said ne particles inwardly through said screen and into saidnozzle. 4. A comminuting device as dened in claim 1, including operatorcontrolled means for intermittently depositing small amounts of crystalsinto the air stream passing through said inlet.

5. In a device for pulverizing and spraying insecticide crystals, meansdefining an annular abrading chamber, said means including an annularscreen defining the inner wall of said cham-v ber, means for ldirectinga crystal laden air stream tangentially into said chamber, and `anoutlet with the space within said screen,

Acylindrical peripheral wall, a cylindrical screen the arrangement beingsuch as to constrainlisaid air stream to move in a generally circularvpath through said chamber with the spent air currents passing inwardlythrough said screen to said outlet and carrying pulverized crystalstherewith,v

and to cause said'crystals to rebound back and 'forth between saidperipheral wall and said screen, whereby to pulverize the crystals.

6. In a device for pulverizing and spraying insecticide crystals, ahousing having a substantially in said housing, spaced inwardly fromsaid peripheral wall to dene therewith an annular abrading chamber,means for directing a crystal laden air stream tangentially into saidchamber, and an outlet communicating with the space within said screen,the arrangement being such as to constrain said airstream to move in agenerally circular path through` said chamber with the spent aircurrents passing inwardly through said screen to said outlet andcarrying pulverized crystals therewith, and to cause said crystals torebound back 'and forth between said peripheral wall and said screen,whereby to pulverize the crystals.

7. In a device for pulverizing and spraying insecticide crystals, ahousingincluding an annular peripheral wall and a side wall, a separateside wall having a circular periphery tted to said peripheral wall forrotatable adjustment relative thereto, an annular member within saidhousing spaced inwardly from said peripheral wall to deiine an annularcrystal abrading chamber, said ying through a sc annular member havingscreening apertures, an inlet formed on said peripheral wall, `arrangedto direct a crystal laden air stream into said chamber, an outlet formedon said separate side wall, communicating with the space within saidannular member and adapted to receive the spent air currents, laden withpulverized crystal particles, passing inwardly through said screeningapertures, and a tie rod joining said side walls, said rod being adaptedto permit the rotatable adjustment of said separate wall and outletrelative to said peripheral wall, and to be tightened to x the positionof adjustment thereof.

8. In adevice for pulverizing and dispensing insecticide crystals, ahousing including an annular peripheral wall and a pair of side walls,one of which is separate and detachably secured to said peripheral wall,said side walls having interiorly extending annular collars, an annularmember confined between said side walls, the ends of lsaid annularmember being received and supported in said collars, an inlet formed onsaid joining said side walls and maintaining the parts in assembledrelation.

9. The process for pulverizing and spraying insecticide crystalscomprising housing said crystals said crystals to move from a housedcondition, changing the path of such movement, moving the crystalsthrough a striking zone while simultaneously and repeatedly deflectingcrystals todiferent paths of movement, movreening zone such crystals ashave beenfcompletely moved vout of the striking zone, repeatedlyrecirculating such crystals as have not been screened to move inpredetermined a conduit and means for comminuting insecticide incommunication with the conduit, said means having an abrasive surfaceand a screening surface, substantial portions of both surfaces facingeach other and in spaced relation, whereby insecticide passing from thecontainer and conduit to said means may initially contact either thescreen surface or the abrasive surface, and means in 'communication withthe rst said means for allowing insecticide laden air to be removed fromthe first said means, whereby at least one plane intersecting theabrasive and screening surfaces vwill include the axis of the conduit.`

11. An insecticide spraying device comprising a conduit and means forcomminutinginsecticide crystals in communication with the conduit, saidmeans having an abrasive wall, an inner wall spaced from the abrasivewall and having a screening portion opposite the abrasive wall, saidscreening portion and abrasive wall having the eiect of causing crystalsto move in a substantially closed' circuit, whereby insecticide crystalscontact either the screening portion or the.' abrasive wall, and meansin communication with said rst means for allowingy insecticide laden airto be removed from the iirst .said means, whereby at least one planeintersecting the abrasive wall and the inner wall will include the axisof the conduit.'

FREDERICK' H. BURMEISTER. IRA F. FLATZ.

